Re: Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

[Guest guest]

Hello

I'm switching rheumys and will probably be going from Remicade to Rituxin (at

least the new guy thinks so). I have needed a visit to the primary for an

antibiotic after each of my Remicade treatements since they started a year ago.

When the new guy heard this, he said he would not want me on the Remicade but

Rituxin. However, in researching the drug, I thought the side effects were very

scary, you are the first that I have read that makes it sound good. If you

would have the time to expand on it, I'd love to read it. Thanking you in

advance, in PA

[ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad, with

the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are someone

with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness along

side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active RA

despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history since

childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although her

specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to think

risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only used

it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,(chiefly

lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a different

scenario.

It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in complicated

cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput from you

would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her present

state but also scared stiff.

Sorry this is so long

Thanks Chris

retired doc UK

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I had good luck with Rituxan - although you are supposed to take Methotraxe

with it ( I believe) and I can't take mtx so I had different results and since I

am inbetween RA docs, I haven't gotten back on it. Other issues I have right

now is a bacterial infection and they will not give you RA meds when you have an

infection. Other than the first infusion, where I had a reaction within 90

minutes which is normal, I did not have any problems 2nd go around. It worked

for the period it was supposed to. I recommend it - Orienca is supposed to be

goo d too but I haven't tried that.

D. - SC

McNally <McNacks@...> wrote:

Hello

I'm switching rheumys and will probably be going from Remicade to Rituxin (at

least the new guy thinks so). I have needed a visit to the primary for an

antibiotic after each of my Remicade treatements since they started a year ago.

When the new guy heard this, he said he would not want me on the Remicade but

Rituxin. However, in researching the drug, I thought the side effects were very

scary, you are the first that I have read that makes it sound good. If you would

have the time to expand on it, I'd love to read it. Thanking you in advance,

in PA

[ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad, with

the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are someone

with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness along

side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active RA

despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history since

childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although her

specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to think

risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only used

it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,(chiefly

lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a different

scenario.

It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in complicated

cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput from you

would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her present

state but also scared stiff.

Sorry this is so long

Thanks Chris

retired doc UK

[Guest guest]

, can you tell me what kind of reaction you had. Thanks, in pa

[ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad, with

the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are someone

with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness along

side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active RA

despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history since

childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although her

specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to think

risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only used

it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,(chiefly

lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a different

scenario.

It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in complicated

cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput from you

would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her present

state but also scared stiff.

Sorry this is so long

Thanks Chris

retired doc UK

[Guest guest]

Hi,

It was a " normal " reaction - within 90 minutes, it was like I was getting a

cold - sneezing, stopping up, getting a rash and my throat began to close. They

immediately gave me a horse dose of beneydryl and I was fine. 2nd dose, my RA

doc had me on prednisone and allergy medication priior to and afterwards and I

had no problem. All of this was normal but I will tell you that all of those

first sympotms came all at the same time - it was a little scary but they acted

very, very fast and even took me off the IV until I was back to myself. I have

no complaints though - the drug did what it was supposed to do for RA. I hope

that helps!

D.

McNally <McNacks@...> wrote:

, can you tell me what kind of reaction you had. Thanks, in

pa

[ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad, with

the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are someone

with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness along

side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active RA

despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history since

childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although her

specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to think

risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only used

it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,(chiefly

lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a different

scenario.

It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in complicated

cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput from you

would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her present

state but also scared stiff.

Sorry this is so long

Thanks Chris

retired doc UK

[Guest guest]

Hi there! My name is Kris and I recently started Rituxan w/ weekly

MTX. I had my first infusion on June 12 and am going in for my second

infusion on the 26th. During my first infusion, I had the same

reaction when I was about half way thru. (Tongue swelling, rash, face

swelling/red, etc) They had started the infusion with Benedryl and

Solumedrol so when the reaction happened, they gave me more of both

and I was back to normal besides a headache that later turned into a

migraine. They finished the infusion and I went home. I had a

horrible migraine thru that night and then next day. I also had the

feeling of skin crawling (Neuropothy???) and lots of nausea. But now

I'm 9 days into it and I still have all the side effects but no

migraine and their not as bad as before. I'm hoping it will pass but

then I get another infusion in 4 days. So we'll see! But RA

wise...I'm not hurting. I've had some sore moments after walking for

a long time but other than that...the joints are pretty good. I've

taken Orencia (w/ NO side effects) as well but it didn't do the trick

for me. I've never had history with infections so I've been lucky

there. I'll post again after the next infusion and let everyone know

what's going on.

Brightest Blessings, e from CA

> Hello

>

> I'm switching rheumys and will probably be going from Remicade to

Rituxin (at least the new guy thinks so). I have needed a visit to

the primary for an antibiotic after each of my Remicade treatements

since they started a year ago. When the new guy heard this, he said

he would not want me on the Remicade but Rituxin. However, in

researching the drug, I thought the side effects were very scary, you

are the first that I have read that makes it sound good. If you would

have the time to expand on it, I'd love to read it. Thanking you in

advance, in PA

> [ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

>

> Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad,

with

> the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are someone

> with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness along

> side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active RA

> despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history since

> childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

> infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although her

> specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to think

> risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only

used

> it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

> Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,(chiefly

> lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

> agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

> armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a

different

> scenario.

> It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

> experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in complicated

> cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput from

you

> would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her present

> state but also scared stiff.

> Sorry this is so long

> Thanks Chris

> retired doc UK

>

>

[Guest guest]

> > Hello

> >

> > I'm switching rheumys and will probably be going from Remicade

to

> Rituxin (at least the new guy thinks so). I have needed a visit to

> the primary for an antibiotic after each of my Remicade

treatements

> since they started a year ago. When the new guy heard this, he

said

> he would not want me on the Remicade but Rituxin. However, in

> researching the drug, I thought the side effects were very scary,

you

> are the first that I have read that makes it sound good. If you

would

> have the time to expand on it, I'd love to read it. Thanking you

in

> advance, in PA

> > [ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

> >

> > Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad,

> with

> > the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are

someone

> > with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness

along

> > side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active

RA

> > despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history

since

> > childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

> > infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although

her

> > specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to

think

> > risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only

> used

> > it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

> > Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,

(chiefly

> > lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

> > agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

> > armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a

> different

> > scenario.

> > It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

> > experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in

complicated

> > cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput

from

> you

> > would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her

present

> > state but also scared stiff.

> > Sorry this is so long

> > Thanks Chris

> > retired doc UK

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

HI,

I had my first Rituxan infusion last week, and everything went well.   My throat

started to feel funny (I think it was starting to swell) about 3 hours into it,

but a dose of benadryl fixed it, and I sailed through it.   I had no side

effects whatsoever (thank goodness).

I go for my second infusion next week, and am hoping it goes as well as the

first one.

-

From: michellefollet <michellefollet@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

Date: Monday, June 23, 2008, 5:12 AM

> > Hello

> >

> > I'm switching rheumys and will probably be going from Remicade

to

> Rituxin (at least the new guy thinks so). I have needed a visit to

> the primary for an antibiotic after each of my Remicade

treatements

> since they started a year ago. When the new guy heard this, he

said

> he would not want me on the Remicade but Rituxin. However, in

> researching the drug, I thought the side effects were very scary,

you

> are the first that I have read that makes it sound good. If you

would

> have the time to expand on it, I'd love to read it. Thanking you

in

> advance, in PA

> > [ ] Rituxan question -can anyone help please?

> >

> > Would be very grateful to hear of any experiences, good and bad,

> with

> > the biologic Rituxan (rituximab), and especially if you are

someone

> > with a complicated medical history, suffering other illness

along

> > side the RA. This is on behalf of my friend, 60, who has active

RA

> > despite DMARDs, (1 year plus since onset) She has a history

since

> > childhood of bronchiectasis/ asthma,suffering chest and ear

> > infections and sinusitis.She also seems to have FMS. Although

her

> > specialist had mentioned Rituxan initially, he now seems to

think

> > risks of overwhelming infection would be very great.He has only

> used

> > it in a handful of patients, those without lung problems.

> > Interestingly I have used this drug in the oncology field,

(chiefly

> > lymphoma) where my impression was of a powerful but effective

> > agent,generally safe, and a very valuable recent addition to the

> > armamentarium to fight disease. However of course that is a

> different

> > scenario.

> > It needs time and numbers to build a sufficient data base of

> > experience for such new drugs and their risk/benifit in

complicated

> > cases. Here in the UK we necessarily lag behind so any imput

from

> you

> > would be really appreciated. My friend is despondent in her

present

> > state but also scared stiff.

> > Sorry this is so long

> > Thanks Chris

> > retired doc UK

> >

> >